Public hears plan for 23 North Main

Thursday

WELLSVILLE — The new plan for the old Burrous Building took centerstage Wednesday as village officials hosted a public hearing in the Nancy Howe Auditorium.

Local leaders hope this is the last time the issue needs to be up for debate, and the property, rebranded as 23 North Main, receives new life in the next few years.

Village officials unveiled the plan for the former Burrous Building Oct. 30. Wednesday’s public forum gave the community the chance to hear the plans first-hand, and weigh in with some concerns and suggestions.

The plan calls for the former Burrous Building to be sold to Two Plus Four Construction Co. of Syracuse, which will then lease the building to the Village of Wellsville for $0, aside from utility costs. The Town of Wellsville will then sublease from the village, with both moving their offices into the first floor of the building.

The second and third floors will be turned into 16 single-unit apartments for low-income seniors, operated by the Alfred Housing Committee.

Wellsville mayor Randy Shayler noted the plan is a long way from the dark days of 2012, when the building suffered a partial collapse a couple weeks into the tenure of his predecessor, Judy Lynch.

“This all got started under Judy Lynch’s watch,” Shayler said. “Had she not been willing to step up and take a stand on this, we’d be talking right now about what the assessment would be to knock that building down. She took a stand and said no, this building can be refurbished, let’s put the work into it, let’s go out and look for some money, let’s see if we can make this happen.

“As we’re seeing here today, yes we can.”

Under the current plan, the Wellsville Municipal Building at 156 North Main would be sold to an approved bidder with the wherewithal to maintain it, bringing both buildings back on the tax rolls in a win-win for village coffers.

“We’re going from today, two buildings that are not on the tax rolls, to two buildings that will be on the tax rolls,” Shayler said. “The village and town offices are going from a far less than current building, if you will, with some serious ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) issues, to a brand new, totally ADA compliant facility.

“To take 156 North Main and get it to ADA compliance and get it current, we’re looking at roughly $250,000. It’s substantial for an old building like that.”

The village has invested $200,000 in the Burrous Building, money it stands to get back if everything goes according to plan. The project has already received $2 million from various grants in the last year or so.

“We have to write an application in the amount of $8 million. This is a $10 million project,” said Alfred Housing Committee Executive Director Bob Sobeck. “We’ll use the $2 million, of which $200,000 will go back to the village, and we’re requesting an additional $8 million. That application has to be in Dec. 5. They’ll make the awards on May 5. That is key that we get this.

“We’ll go to contract immediately if we’re successful, and I’m highly confident that we will be,” Sobeck added. “We’ll go to contract and open July 2019, is my best guess. That $200,000 will go back to the village. It will come out of that $2 million and go back to the village board and village taxpayers. It’s my understanding it will be used to re-open up the revolving loan fund.”

The Alfred Housing Committee will partner with Two Plus Four in managing 23 North Main. They have already partnered on four projects in Wellsville, such as Highland Point. Sobeck pointed out that the committee uses local contractors on all its regular maintenance projects, and the construction crews stay in local hotels during the initial construction process as well.

During the open public forum, Brad Thompson asked about 23 North Main’s neighboring buildings. Pizza King and Hamar’s Pub are not part of the project, Sobeck said.

“The pub does have bands on weekends,” Thompson said. “If you have senior citizens living in close proximity to that, that may become an issue. That may be something that you want to address.”

“We have faith in our local police department,” Sobeck responded, in regards to noise ordinances.

John Embser asked about traffic concerns given that the Gabby Hayes extension through to West State Street will no longer be a thoroughfare. The backside of the building will feature 22 parking spots, with some green space and entry for tenants. Village and town offices will enter through the front on Main Street.

If all goes according to plan, local officials and tenants will be opening those doors on a daily basis and calling 23 North Main home in 2019.

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